Welfare and Warfare

Chapter 48

Day: 3447

Days Left: 2033

Lives Saved: 18

"Is everything alright?" Nia asked, seeing who everyone was looking at. "Who are they?"

"We considered them friends at one point," Dex answered, his focus never wavering. Seven and a half years, that was how long those two had been free after betraying everyone else. "But they traded that friendship for freedom. They caused a fire and destroyed our food supply and..." He glanced at Calanthe. "And two of our friends were in that fire."

Nia's gasped in shock, her hand over her mouth.

Dex then remembered his first meeting with Nasim, that they had been a close friend to Sumit. He saw their steady gaze, seemingly indifferent and yet he could see through the act. "Why did you invite them?" Dex asked.

"As much it is painful, after what they did to Sumit," Nasim began. "And to Mr Oscar, they earn money for the organisation. I have to remain professional and think about what the money can do to help others. I apologise, I did not expect them to attend as they are both fine financially. Similarly to Miss Calanthe, they are using their skills to garner interest from the nobility. I assume that they are here to gain more clients."

Dex chewed his bottom lip as he watched them parade around, putting on smiles and interacting with the nobility.

"Please do not do anything rash," advised Nasim. "It should be obvious but if you act on any violence or serious conflict, you will not be paid or hired again in the future."

"I know," Dex gritted his teeth. He held onto Calanthe's hand, comforting her as she looked away from the pair of traitors.

"Also, I thought you should know that there is a bet currently on," added Nasim. "On you."

"On me?"

"On what you will do with them," Nasim said flatly. "If you will engage in violence, or an argument, or if you will simply ignore them."

"People are betting on if I'll blow a fuse?"

"Yes, correct."

Dex glanced around, finding eyes on him, some wearing masks and whispering to another but it was clear as to why he was gaining their attention. Pearl and Daina seemed all the more oblivious or were aware of him and Calanthe and were just avoiding conflict too.

Nasim took another moment of watching Pearl and Daina, their hands gripped into fists before putting on a practised smile. "Well, I shall leave you to make more rounds. Please don't do anything foolish."

"I won't," Dex muttered as Nasim left to schmooze.

He had no initial plans to hurt Pearl and Daina as much he imagined it, to exact some kind of justice for what they did, though really it should be Sumit and Oscar to do so despite neither remembering the perpetrators. However, learning about the bet placed upon him, Dex remained solid on his choice to simply ignore them.

To hurt them, a noble would win a bet against him.

To yell at them would do the same, a noble would win.

And to do nothing, a noble would win.

No matter what he chose to do, they always won. What choice could he make to ensure that they would lose? Could they ever lose?

Even out of the Eternal Abyss, he was still being betted on, someone profiting off of his suffering and victories.

Dex guided Calanthe and Nia to another room, avoiding Pearl and Daina for the whole evening despite other people persisting that they interact, declaring how much they bet on Dex punching the old seamstress and unassuming songstress. Was that how people viewed him? A violent man? Even though he made the right choice, by not starting any conflict, he hated hearing how people won money over it, thanking him for making that decision. It was the right choice, but it could never be a victory. There were even suggestions by nobles to rig the bets, telling Dex what to do next and they would give him a portion of the winnings in secret. Dex debated this, thinking back to what Nia had thought on, about being able to live off one indecent act for the rest of your life. Before he could answer this proposition, Nasim ushered him over, saving him from making any unwise decisions.